Air Products has appointed Kurt Lefevere and Francesco Maione as group presidents, effective November 1. Lefevere will oversee operations in the Americas, while Maione will manage the regions of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
Both executives will report directly to CEO Eduardo Menezes. Lefevere is currently the president of Air Products Asia and will now be responsible for atmospheric gases businesses across North and South America, including North American hydrogen and carbon monoxide (HyCO) operations. His role also encompasses global HyCO project delivery, equipment sales, and plant support.
Maione, who is presently the president of Americas, Helium, and Rare Gases, will oversee Air Products’ activities across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, and Asia. He will additionally handle global air separation unit and standard plant solutions project delivery.
The company stated that these appointments aim to enhance coordination among its regional businesses, customers, and project delivery operations. “Their industry expertise, global perspectives, and deep knowledge of Air Products will help us profitably grow our industrial gases business,” Menezes remarked.
The changes come on the heels of Air Products’ third-quarter report in July, when the company announced an operating loss of $2.1 billion. This loss included $2.9 billion in charges, predominantly due to the cancellation of significant clean energy projects, such as a proposed blue hydrogen facility in Louisiana. Despite these charges, the company reported a 5% increase in quarterly sales, reaching $3.2 billion, and a 12% rise in adjusted earnings per share to $3.47. Menezes emphasized a “clear pathway to reduce capital expenditures and drive continued profitable growth” moving forward.
